After a landslip stopped service between Basingstoke and London Waterloo, Network Rail apologized to its customers.
After many days of persistent rain, a portion of Hook’s embankment fell on Sunday, leaving one of the tracks dangling precariously in the air.
Passengers have been cautioned to expect significant inconvenience, and it is anticipated that the landslip will have a ripple effect, increasing traffic on adjacent train lines.
Customers should only travel this week between Basingstoke and Woking, according to South Western Railway, if it is absolutely necessary.
The duration of the repairs has not been disclosed by the engineers.
On the Hampshire embankment to the northeast of Hook station, which is located on the London to Basingstoke train line, a 44-meter landslide occurred.
Two of the four tracks on the railway are still usable due to the damage, and both of these tracks are exclusively intended for trains headed to London.
Customers traveling to or from London from the south or west of Basingstoke are advised by South Western Railway to verify before they leave and to arrange other transportation.
Mark Killick, route director for Network Rail in Wessex, stated: “This is a significant landslip and will have a significant impact on consumers. Our railway’s main line to Basingstoke is its backbone, and changes there will have an effect elsewhere along the line.
Since many of the trains that would use this section of the railway start and end their trips at London Waterloo, I sincerely apologize for the magnitude of the disruption and kindly request that passengers check before they travel this week, not just on the affected section but all the way up the line.
“We’re still evaluating the damage, so it’s challenging to set a precise timeline, but we know it will take at least a week.
The embankment will need to be stabilized, basically keeping it from moving, and then the railway will need to be rebuilt where it has slipped away.
“We’ll keep everyone updated on our progress, and I can only thank everyone for their understanding and again apologize for the inconvenience. Once the new timetable has been able to be confirmed, keep an eye out for more information from South Western Railway.
According to a Network Rail spokesman, the embankment was constructed from a combination of local soils, including saturated London clay, and other local soils.
He stated: “The slip occurred when, in what engineers refer to as a “rotational collapse,” the soil broke way along a 44-meter portion of a 10-high embankment and fell out from under the lines.
“The work needed to rebuild the railway is being designed by Network Rail and its suppliers, which will provide a better understanding of timeframes.